If you want a landscape plan that delivers the best design outcome for your garden and making the most of your outdoor area. Consulting a landscape architect is one way to ensure this happens
The residential garden landscape is a canvas upon which to paint a picture.
The landscaping ideas and landscape design should be timeless and without allegiance to fashion.
Sadly, many fashionably new residential gardens today will soon be out of 
date, thereby actually detracting from the value of the property in the future, rather than appreciating the value of the home year by year.
First, you want your designer to plan a garden that supports the architecture of your home, acts as a frame for its architectural style, and shows off the architecture at its best.
Second, to design a garden that suits your specific needs and tastes. A good landscape architect should have the skill is to combine these two requirements in a form that adds value to the property.
Before consultation, write up a “wish list”, including both those things you would love in a garden and also those things you would not like.
Then talk though your wish list with him or her, discuss what will work and what may not, what will best suit the architectural style of your home and will add the maximum value to the property. Discuss materials, styles, approximate costs and the general direction that the garden should go.
Never let an architect force a “boring” plan upon you! This is one that simply has repetition of similar plants all in neat little rows – with little variation or interest over the long term.
Ensure that there is a wide range of textural variation -
1. tree bark
2. foliage
3. flowers
4. shapes
5. sizes of shrubs, trees, garden beds)
And, that the plants reflect the best of the seasons – e.g. azaleas in winter, roses and annuals in Spring to Autumn.
Consult about the benefit of landscape lighting – for both functionality (security etc) and interest. Your garden can look very different and beautiful at night with the interplay of light and shadow.
Always make sure you see examples of his work – in a similar setting as your own. This will help you get an idea of his creativity and experience. Don’t just go by photos if possible.
Make sure, before you sign any contracts, that you fully understand the costings – of the labor and other expenses, including architect fees. Be prepared to include your own sub-contracting – for example you may be able to buy the plants cheaper, or want to employ some high school lads who are looking for summer work.
At the end of this process, you should have a very clear idea on the direction in which the project should or can go.
Culturally, landscape architects are frequently associated with larger projects, and Landscape Designers are associated with smaller projects. But in actual practice, that’s not the case 100% of the time.
In the U.S. there is a website for information about landscape architecture at http://www.asla.org
In the landscape design profession, “Landscape Architecture” is generally the name of the more advanced level of college education pertaining to landscape design.